"I had to become an upcoming artist again. With ego, with all that emotion of being a superstar once, of having hits once, of rocking the nation once, with all that ego, it would be hard to want to start again, right? The logical thing that I did was to just plunge." - GT Da Guitarman, Singer & Guitarist.

For the first time ever, Origins Africa caught up with a guest for a follow up interview recording.

On this bonus episode, we have a more personal conversation with GT Da Guitarman - the artistic side of Olaolu Olugbemiro Tokunbo. We explore the spiritual journey GT started last year, right after his divorce was finalized. You will hear GT talk about giving up his property and moving to Abuja. GT will also share an exciting news - about finally getting something he had been seeking for the longest time since he left Storm Records.   

#GTDaGuitarman #GT #OlaoluOlugbemiroTokunbo #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

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As GT Da Guitarman - the artistic side of Olaolu Olugbemiro Tokunbo, continues his origin story on this episode, you will hear him talk about taking a break from music - his dream.

We will also explore the mistakes, lessons and embarrassing moments on his journey, his sojourn into mining business, as well as his recent return to music with renewed passion like he never left.   

#GTDaGuitarman #GT #OlaoluOlugbemiroTokunbo #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

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"People would come to me and say, "GT, you have a great voice". And even when they'd say all those things, I knew I could sing; but then, the gravity at which people were coming, I just couldn't deny it. They kept coming and saying "Wow, the guy with the good voice". I now became "the guy with the good voice"; people didn't call me GT anymore. They'd be like, "that guy can sing"... I mean, it was more like music found me... or people just chose me." - GT Da Guitarman, Singer & Guitarist.

"When am I gonna be what I wanna be,When am I gonna see what I wanna see,Time is ticking and I can't wait no more,Do dreams ever come true in this part of this world."

Those words are from the song, Dreamer, by GT Da Guitarman - the artistic side of Olaolu Olugbemiro Tokunbo. Such powerful lyrics the song has, echoing the cries of many young individuals even today - "when will my dreams come true?"

In 2021, we knew we wanted to interview GT on Origins Africa Podcast. If anything, to ask just one question - 2021 made it 16 years since he released Dreamer; was GT still curious about when he was going to be what he wanted to be or had his dreams come true? 

GT''s origin story is one of a young man who had a dream to be heard all over the world through his music, and who gave that dream a shot. Indeed, he was heard. But along the way, he got frustrated, gave up on the dream for some time and went on to do something else. Today, GT is back pursuing that dream with renewed passion like he never left.

On this episode, Part 1, you will hear GT talk about growing up in what he called a "broken home". He'll talk about the defining moment that shaped his decision to pursue music as a career, how he got his first guitar, the moment he got signed into Storm Records, and then, taking a break from pursuing his dream - music.  

#GTDaGuitarman #GT #OlaoluOlugbemiroTokunbo #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

Instagram: instagram.com/originsaf

YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

In 2012, Abolore Salami was working at Del-York International and earning a decent amount. But the key thing there was that he still couldn't picture going from that to being rich. So, he was asking himself, "how do people then get rich earning a salary?"

On this episode, Salami shares his origin story, and mission to help people create a financially secure future through Riby, a fintech company. He talks about his early business failures while in school, his mistakes, and how the book, "The Richest Man in Babylon", inspired the birth of Riby. He also shares the need for the world to return to the apprenticeship model, as well as the importance of being prepared for one's time and chance.

This interview was initially published in 2020. 

#AboloreSalami #Riby #RibyFinance #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

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YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

As Kemi Shonubi continues her origin story on this episode, you will particularly hear how important it is to have a loving and supportive partner/people with you on your journey. People who, especially in your low moments, remind you of who you are and the achievements you have recorded.

We will explore Kemi's defining moments in her first HR Executive role at Venture Garden Group - a tech company, her career mistakes and lessons, as well as her career progression up to her current role as the Director of People Culture Experience & Operations at TVC Communications. TVC Communications is a privately owned, multiplatform national and international full service media organization established in 2007 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

Kemi is also the Founder of the HR Storyteller platform, and on this episode, you will get to hear how the HR Storyteller platform was birthed - a platform oriented towards transforming the HR practice and workplace cultures with the art and power of storytelling.

#KemiShonubi #HRStoryteller #TVCCommunications #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

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YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

Today, Kemi Shonubi is the Director of People Culture Experience & Operations at TVC Communications, a privately owned, multiplatform national and international full service media organization established in 2007 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.

Under her leadership, the media company has been certified as a Great Place To Work Company in Nigeria for the last two years by the Great Place To Work Institute of the USA, and has gone on to win several awards including some from one of the foremost people management institutes in Africa, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

All these are certainly no mean feat. And you might be tempted to think Human Resources (HR) is something that Kemi has always done, that she started her career in HR. But, you couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, Kemi's journey into HR could be termed coincidental or what many people might call destiny, a divine orchestration of some sort.  

On this episode, Part 1, you will hear Kemi talk about growing up in the north, the defining moments she had that shaped who she's become today, including losing her mom while in school, as well as her journey into the HR world.

Kemi is also the Founder of the HR Storyteller platform - a platform oriented towards transforming the HR practice and workplace cultures with the art and power of storytelling. 

#KemiShonubi #HRStoryteller #TVCCommunications #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

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YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

"I fell asleep and I heard a TV commercial basically saying bookingsafrica.com, the #1 online platform for service providers across Africa. 'Cause I remember, like, literally jumping up out of my sleep. I go, finally, this website will be perfect for my production company... I was like, great, let me go on to the website to see if I can find this location that I need and, literally, I woke up and my TV was off. And I thought, wait, did NEPA take light? Or what's going on? I was like, okay, there's still light. I don't know what's happening. But let me just check, I remember the name of the website. And I went bookingsafrica.com, and the website's available to purchase..." - Fadé Ogunro, Founder & CEO, Bookings Africa.

What is particularly curious about Bookings Africa is that the name came to Fadé in a bizarre dream - a dream she had in 2016. But, how did Bookings Africa move from a bizarre dream to a platform that now has over 20,000 service providers, clients and partners combined?

On this episode, the concluding part of our chat with Fadé Ogunro, we will explore Fadé starting a new life in Nigeria after her return from the UK. Fadé will talk about the birth and growth of Film Factory, a multi-award video production company she co-founded with her brother in 2011, as well as her latest venture, Bookings Africa, a pan-African on-demand digital marketplace for the entertainment, media, and lifestyle industries.

Fadé is the Founder & CEO of Bookings Africa.

#FadéOgunro #BookingsAfrica #FilmFactory #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

Instagram: instagram.com/originsaf

YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

"God does not dish out talent based on race, based on gender. He's not going to say just because you are a woman, all you can do is sing and all you can do is be a make-up artist; because you are a man, the talent He's going to give you is biochemistry and chemical engineering or something. So, a woman can be a mathematician; a man can be a chef, can be a make-up artist, can be whatever you want. So, never allow another human being tell you what you can or can't do because they aren't God." - Fadé Ogunro, Founder & CEO, Bookings Africa.

In 2019, Fadé Ogunro, a multitalented creative who has boldly lived her life exploring her curiosities across media, arts and entertainment, segued into another sector entirely, technology, and launched her latest venture, Bookings Africa – a pan-African on-demand digital marketplace that allows professionals and service providers from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa to sell their services and skills online.

 

 

What is particularly curious about Bookings Africa is that the name came to Fadé in a bizarre dream. Curiously, how did Bookings Africa move from a bizarre dream to a platform that now has over 20,000 service providers, clients and partners combined? 

 

 

On this episode, Part 1, you will hear Fadé talk about her defining childhood experiences and how they shaped who she's become today, including her entrepreneurship mindset. Fadé will also talk about taking a break from her work at Google in the UK and starting a new life in Nigeria in 2010.

 

 

Fadé is also the Co-founder of Film Factory, a multi-award winning video production company she started together with her brother, Sesan Ogunro, in 2011. Most recently, Fadé is the Africa Chair for the Cherie Blair Foundation. She was also recognised by South Africa's Tropics Magazine in their African Doers Power List 2021 as one of the 500 most influential Africans in the world. 

#FadéOgunro #BookingsAfrica #FilmFactory #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

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Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

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YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

"But just hearing Natalie on that episode explaining the concept of "The Suitcase Entrepreneur", guy, this young boy from Igbuzo, Delta State, who grew up in Surulere, Lagos, who had a lid on how far he could dream, my head was burst open. She was talking about realities I had never seen or heard or fathomed of before. Like what? She lives from country to country out of her suitcase because she only works from her laptop, what kind of extra terrestrial being is she? And she explained the concept, I was shocked. I lay on my back and was just looking up at the ceiling like, this exists, this exists, this exists..." - John Obidi, Director of Growth, The ABiT Network, & Founder, Headstart Africa.

On this episode, the final of our two-part conversation, you will hear John talk about how he began his journey as a social media expert, his relocation to Lagos State in pursuit of his dreams, as well as the circumstances that led to the birth of Headstart Africa community (formerly Smart Bcamp). John will also share his mistakes, habits and principles, and general life lessons. 

John Obidi is the Director of Growth at The ABiT Network, a blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions company, as well as the Founder of Headstart Africa (formerly Smart Bcamp), a community dedicated to closing the knowledge gap among working professionals in Nigeria.

#JohnObidi #HeadstartAfrica #TheABiTNetwork #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

Instagram: instagram.com/originsaf

YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast

"In 100 years, you, me, everybody listening to this episode of this podcast will be dead. Gone. In 100 years, we will all be gone. Nothing will matter. It puts into perspective some of the things that we take as very big problems or big challenges or big embarrassments. In 100 years, none of these will matter. None of the people concerned will matter. We will all be dead. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes." - John Obidi, Director of Growth, The ABiT Network, & Founder, Headstart Africa.

Right from when John was a kid, he has always been drawn to computers. In fact, when he was 8/9 years old, he "accidentally" learned a programming language. From studying Computer Science at Benson Idahosa University, John has evolved and worn many hats, moving from programming into digital marketing, community building, and more recently, cryptocurrency. But what was the journey like for John?

On this episode, the first of a two-part conversation, you will hear John talk about his journey into blockchain and how he made the decision to join The ABiT Network. He will talk about his early childhood experiences, growing up in a lower middle class family, as well as the defining moments that shaped who he's become today.

John Obidi is the Director of Growth at The ABiT Network, a blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions company, as well as the Founder of Headstart Africa (formerly Smart Bcamp), a community dedicated to closing the knowledge gap among working professionals in Nigeria.

#JohnObidi #HeadstartAfrica #TheABiTNetwork #OriginsAfrica #OriginsAfricaPodcast

 

***

1-2-1 Newsletter by Origins Africa

Catch our 1-2-1 Newsletter where we share with you 1 Lesson, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question from each guest interview. You can check it out and subscribe here: originsafrica.substack.com

 

Follow Origins Africa Podcast: 

Twitter: twitter.com/originsaf

Instagram: instagram.com/originsaf

YouTube: youtube.com/originsafricapodcast